Quantum nondemolition microwave photon counter based on the cross-Kerr nonlinearity of a Josephson junction embedded in a superconducting circuit

ABSTRACT

A technique relates to a microwave device. A pump resonator, at a first pump resonator end, is connected to both a dispersive nonlinear element and a first stub. The pump resonator, at a second pump resonator end, is capacitively coupled to a pump port, where the first stub is terminated in an open circuit. A quantum signal resonator, at a first quantum signal resonator end, is connected to both the dispersive nonlinear element and a second stub. The quantum signal resonator, at a second signal resonator end, is capacitively coupled to a signal port, where the second stub is connected to ground.

DOMESTIC PRIORITY

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/870,663, filed Sep. 30, 2015, the disclosure of which is incorporatedby reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to measurement techniques of quantumsystems operating in the microwave frequency domain, such assuperconducting quantum circuits, and more specifically, to detectionand/or counting of single microwave photons in a nondemolition manner.

A photon is an elementary particle, the quantum of light and all otherforms of electromagnetic radiation. A photon carries energy proportionalto the radiation frequency and has zero rest mass.

One reason why the detection of single microwave photons is anoutstanding challenge is because the energy of a single microwave photonis very small. The energy of a photon in the microwave domain, forexample in the range 1-10 gigahertz, is at least 10⁴ times smaller thanthe energy of a visible light photon.

Circuit quantum electrodynamics (cQED) is one of the leadingarchitectures for realizing a quantum computer based on superconductingmicrowave circuits. It employs artificial atoms made of nonlinearsuperconducting devices called qubits which are dispersively coupled tomicrowave resonators, i.e., the frequencies of the qubits and resonatorsare detuned. As one example, each superconducting qubit may comprise oneor more Josephson junctions shunted by capacitors in parallel with thejunctions. The qubits are capacitively coupled to two-dimensional (2D)planar waveguide resonators or three-dimensional (3D) microwavecavities. The electromagnetic energy associated with the qubit is storedin the Josephson junctions and in the capacitive and inductive elementsforming the qubit. To date, a major focus has been on improvinglifetimes of the qubits in order to allow calculations (i.e.,manipulation and readout) to take place before the information is lostdue to decoherence of the qubits.

Dispersively coupling a superconducting qubit to a microwave resonatorin a cQED architecture loads the resonator and makes its resonancefrequency dependent on the quantum state of the qubit (i.e., theresonance frequency of the resonator is different depending on whetherthe qubit is in the ground or excited states). This property enables theperformance of quantum nondemolition measurement of the qubit state, bysending a microwave signal on the order of a few photons to the cQEDnear the resonator frequency, and measuring the amplitude and/or phaseof the output microwave field that carries information about the qubitstate. Thus, one potential application of a working and reliable singlephoton detector in the microwave domain is to enable measuring this weakoutput signal (i.e., detecting the qubit state) inside the dilutionfridge, without requiring the use of high-gain, low-noise, andhigh-isolation output chains that are typically used nowadays in orderto perform such measurements.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment, a microwave device is provided. Themicrowave device includes a dispersive nonlinear element, and a pumpresonator, at a first pump resonator end, connected to both thedispersive nonlinear element and a first stub. The pump resonator, at asecond pump resonator end, is capacitively coupled to a pump port, wherethe first stub is terminated in an open circuit. Also, the microwavedevice includes a quantum signal resonator, at a first quantum signalresonator end, connected to both the dispersive nonlinear element and asecond stub. The quantum signal resonator, at a second signal resonatorend, is capacitively coupled to a signal port, wherein the second stubis connected to ground.

According to one embodiment, a method for nondemolition counting ofphotons is provided. The method includes coupling a pump resonance modeof a pump resonator and a signal resonance mode of a quantum signalresonator to a dispersive nonlinear element, responsive to a pump signalat a pump resonance frequency and a quantum signal at a signal resonancefrequency. The pump resonance mode of the pump resonator has the pumpresonance frequency, where the signal resonance mode of the quantumsignal resonator has the signal resonance frequency. Also, the methodincludes creating a nonlinear interaction between the pump signal andthe quantum signal, by driving the pump resonance mode with the pumpsignal at the pump resonance frequency, and detecting a presence orabsence of photons in the quantum signal according to the pump resonancefrequency which affects an output pump signal being measured.

According to one embodiment, a method of operating a microwave device isdevice. The method includes receiving, by the microwave device, a pumpsignal at a pump resonance frequency, where the pump resonance frequencycorresponds to a pump resonance mode of a pump resonator. The methodincludes receiving, by the microwave device, a quantum signal at asignal resonance frequency, where the signal resonance frequencycorresponds to a signal resonance mode of a signal resonator, andoutputting, by the microwave device, the pump signal with a phase shift,in response to a number of photons in the quantum signal.

Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniquesof the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the inventionare described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimedinvention. For a better understanding of the invention with theadvantages and the features, refer to the description and to thedrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic of a microwave device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of an equivalent circuit of the microwave deviceas seen by the pump port according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic of an equivalent circuit of the microwave deviceas seen by the signal port according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic of an example implementation of the microwavedevice using a coplanar waveguide geometry according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic of an example implementation of the microwavedevice using a microstrip geometry according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a method for nondemolition counting and/ordetection of photons using the microwave device according to anembodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a method for the microwave device according toan embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the optical frequency domain, reliable single photon detectors suchas photomultipliers, microwave kinetic inductance detectors, andsuperconducting nanowire single-photon detector are widely used invarious experiments and applications. However, one disadvantage of thesedevices is that they destroy (i.e., absorb) the photons that theydetect.

In contrast, in the microwave domain, i.e., the gigahertz (GHz) range,reliable and practical single photon detectors are still under researchand development. A working microwave photon detector based on Josepshonjunctions (dubbed the Josephson photomultiplier) has been experimentallyresearched. However, similar to single photon detectors in the opticaldomain this device absorbs the photons it detects. Additionally, thismicrowave device under development does not count the number of photonspresent in an incoming signal, it can only distinguish between the casesof zero photons or at least one photon in the signal.

Embodiments provide a practical scheme for a microwave device andmeasurement method for counting single microwave photons. Embodimentsare configured to 1) detect and count the number of single photonswithin a certain bandwidth in the microwave domain, (i.e., in thegigahertz (GHz) range, e.g., the 1-20 GHz range), and 2) perform thedetection and counting of photons in a nondemolition manner, i.e.,without destroying (or absorbing) the photons being detected or counted.

Now turning to the figures, FIG. 1 is a schematic of a microwave device100 according to an embodiment. The microwave device 100 includes aquarter-wavelength resonator 102 for the pump drive and aquarter-wavelength resonator 104 for the quantum signals. One end of thepump resonator 102 is connected to a coupling capacitor 106A, and thecoupling capacitor 106A connects to a pump feedline 108. The pumpfeedline 108 is connected to pump port 111 and/or the pump port 111 ison the pump feedline 108. The pump feedline 108 receives a microwavepump signal 130 (i.e., a strong microwave tone), from a microwavegenerator 135 (denoted as pump). The other end of the pump resonator 102connects to both a dispersive nonlinear element, e.g., Josephsonjunction (JJ) 110 and connects to a half-wavelength stub at the pumpfrequency 120A. The connection of the pump resonator 102, Josephsonjunction (JJ) 110, and stub 120A may be designated as node A. Oppositethe node A, the stub 120A is terminated in an open circuit (O. C.).Opposite the coupling capacitor 106A, the pump feedline 108 is connectedto a microwave measurement/analysis device 150. The microwavemeasurement/analysis device 150 is configured to measure the pump signal130 in reflection after pump signal 130 has interacted with microwavedevice 100. The microwave measurement/analysis device 150 may includeand/or be connected to a computer for determining the phase shift (inthe frequency) in the pump signal as discussed further herein. Themicrowave measurement/analysis device 150 may include and/or beconnected to one or more processors, memories (e.g., computer readablestorage medium) display screens, input devices (e.g., mouse, keyboard,touch screen, etc.). The pump 135 and microwave measurement/analysisdevice 150 are operatively connected to the microwave device 100 via acirculator 180A but are not part of the microwave device 100.

In the microwave device 100, one end of the quarter wavelength signalresonator 104 is connected to a coupling capacitor 106B, and thecoupling capacitor 106B connects to a signal feedline 109. The signalfeedline 109 is connected to a signal port 113 and/or the signal port113 is on the signal feedline 109. The signal feedline 109 is configuredto receive a microwave quantum signal 140, i.e., microwave signal beingmeasured/tested, from a quantum device 145. The quantum device 145 maybe a qubit, a cavity coupled to a qubit, etc. The other end of thesignal resonator 104 connects to the Josephson junction (JJ) 110 andconnects to a half-wavelength stub at the pump frequency 120B. Theconnection of the pump resonator 102, Josephson junction (JJ) 110, andstub 120B may be designated as node B. Opposite the node B, the stub120B is terminated in a short-circuit. The signal feedline 109 may beconnected to the quantum device 145 and a measurement/analysis device144 via a circulator 180B. The measurement/analysis device 144 may beutilized for further processing. In one implementation, the device 144may represent a 50 ohm termination. The port of the circulator 180Bconnected to the measurement/analysis device 144 ensures that noreflected signal is transmitted back to the quantum device 145.

The pump resonator 102 has a fundamental mode, which may be referred toas the pump mode or pump resonance mode. The pump mode of the pumpresonator 102 has a resonance frequency, which may be referred to as thepump resonance frequency f_(P). The pump mode of the pump resonator 102has a wavelength λ_(P), where λ_(P)=c′/f_(P) and c′ is the speed oflight in the transmission line or waveguide used in the implementationof the device 102. The pump signal 130 applied to the pump resonator 102is a strong coherent resonant tone (i.e., its frequency matches theresonance frequency of the pump resonator 102). The pump resonator 102is designed to have a length corresponding to λ_(P)/4, which is quarterthe wavelength of the pump signal. The stubs 120A and 120B are eachdesigned to have a length corresponding to λ_(P)/2, which is half thewavelength of the pump signal.

The signal resonator 104 has a fundamental mode, which may be referredto as the signal mode or signal resonance mode. The signal mode of thesignal resonator 104 has a resonance frequency, which may be referred toas the signal resonance frequency f_(S). The quantum microwave signal140 input to the signal resonator is a weak resonant tone on the orderof a few single photons, whose frequency f_(S) matches the resonancefrequency of the signal mode. The signal mode of the signal resonator104 has a wavelength λ_(S), where λ_(S)=c′/f_(S) and c′ is the speed oflight in the transmission line or waveguide used in the implementationof the device. The signal resonator 104 is designed to have a lengthcorresponding to λ_(S)/4, which is a quarter the wavelength of thequantum signal.

The microwave device 100 has a frequency condition between the (pump)resonance frequency of the pump resonator 102 and the (signal) resonancefrequency of the signal resonator 104. The frequency condition is thatthe pump resonance frequency f_(P) of the pump resonator 102 is equal totwice the signal resonance frequency f_(S) of the signal resonator 104.In other words, the frequency condition is f_(P)=2·f_(S). Accordingly,the applied signal 130 has a frequency f_(P) that is twice the frequencyf_(S) of the quantum signal 140.

The microwave device 100 is configured such that the reflected pumpsignal 130 (identified as, e.g., as reflected pump signal 130′) carriesinformation about the number of photons present in the input quantumsignal 140, and thereby can be utilized to count the photons in thequantum signal 140. Additionally, the reflected quantum signal 140(identified as, e.g., reflected quantum signal 140′) carries informationabout the number of photons present in the input pump signal 130, andthereby can be utilized to count the photons in the pump signal 130.This information about the number of photons in the quantum signal 140is encoded in the phase shift of the reflected pump signal 130′ off port108 as a result of the resonance frequency shift of the pump resonator102 depending on the number of photons in the signal resonator 104. Thephase shift in the reflected pump signal 130′ is measured and analyzedby the microwave measurement/analysis device 150.

The microwave device 100 (and/or operation via pump signal 130 andquantum signal 140) is configured such that it can be described by theeffective Hamiltonian (without the drives and feedlines) H_(eff)=ℏ{tildeover (ω)}_(P)N_(P)+ℏ{tilde over (ω)}_(S)N_(S)+ℏKN_(P) ²+ℏK′N_(P)N_(S),where ℏ{tilde over (ω)}_(P)N_(P) represents the pump resonance mode term(modelled as a harmonic oscillator with {tilde over (ω)}_(P) the dressedresonance frequency of the pump resonance mode), ℏ{tilde over(ω)}_(S)N_(S) represents the signal resonance mode term (modelled as aharmonic oscillator with {tilde over (ω)}_(S) the dressed resonancefrequency of the signal resonance mode), ℏKN_(P) ² represents theself-Kerr nonlinearity of the device, and ℏK′N_(P)N_(S) represents thecross-Kerr nonlinearity of the device. Further, K is the self-Kerrconstant (i.e., the Kerr frequency shift per photon), and K′ is thecross-Kerr constant (i.e., the cross-Kerr frequency shift per photon).Additionally, N_(P) is the photon number operator of the pump mode(whose eigenvalue is the number of photons in the pump resonance mode),where N_(P)=α_(P) ^(†)α_(P), and N_(S) is the photon number operator ofthe signal mode (whose eigenvalue is the number of photons in the signalresonance mode), where

${N_{S} = {a_{S}^{\dagger}a_{S}}},{{{and}\mspace{14mu}\hslash} = \frac{h}{2\pi}},$where h is Planck's constant. Also, α_(P) and α_(S) are quantumoperators (i.e., annihilation operators associated with the pump andsignal resonance modes). It is noted that sometimes in this disclosurethe symbols N_(P), N_(S) may be utilized to represent the eigenvalues ofthe number operators and not the number operators themselves. It is alsonoted that any person who is skilled in the art can easily make thisdistinction from the context.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of the equivalent circuit of the microwave device100 according to an embodiment as seen by the pump port 111. In additionto illustrating what the pump port 111 sees, FIG. 2 concurrentlyillustrates the circuit as seen by the incoming pump signal 130 at thepump resonance frequency f_(P). Accordingly, discussion regarding thepump port 111 applies to the incoming pump signal 130.

In the pump equivalent circuit, FIG. 2 shows the pump feedline 108(including pump port 111) coupled to the transmission line part of thepump resonator 102 via the coupling capacitor 106A, and the other end ofthe transmission line part of the pump resonator connected to ground viathe Josephson junction 110. To explain this equivalent circuit, it isnoted that 1) stub 120A, which serves as an impedance transformer, isterminated in an open circuit and its length corresponds to half thewavelength of the pump signal 130, thus node A sees an open circuit atthe pump frequency, and 2) stub 120B, which serves as an impedancetransformer, is terminated in a short circuit and its length correspondsto half the wavelength of the pump signal 130, thus node B sees a shortcircuit at the pump frequency.

One beneficial result of this pump equivalent circuit is that it showsthat the pump resonance mode does not see the signal resonator 104. Inother words, the pump resonator 102 is isolated from the signalresonator 104.

Another beneficial result is that the rf-current I_(P) associated withthe pump resonance mode has an anti-node at the location of theJosephson junction 110.

FIG. 3 is a schematic of the equivalent circuit of the microwave device100 as seen by the quantum signal port 113 according to an embodiment.In addition to illustrating what the signal port 113 sees, FIG. 3concurrently shows the equivalent circuit as seen by the incomingquantum signal 140 at the signal resonance frequency f_(S). Accordingly,discussion regarding the signal port 113 applies to the incoming quantumsignal 140.

In the equivalent circuit of the microwave device 100 which is seen bythe signal port, FIG. 3 shows the signal feedline 109 (including signalport 113) coupled to the transmission line part of the signal resonator104 via the coupling capacitor 106B, and the other end of thetransmission line part of the signal resonator 104 connected to groundvia the Josephson junction 110. Since the frequency condition for thepump frequency is f_(P)=2·f_(S) (the fundamental resonance mode of thepump resonator 102 corresponds to the pump frequency f_(P) while thefundamental resonance mode of the signal resonator 104 corresponds tothe signal frequency f_(S)), the signal port 113 (quantum signal 140 atthe signal resonance frequency f_(S)) sees the opposite of the pump port111.

In this case (i.e., the case of the signal port), stub 120B, whichserves as an impedance transformer, is terminated in a short circuit andits length corresponds to quarter the wavelength of the signal, thusnode B sees an open circuit at the signal frequency. Similarly, stub120A, which serves as an impedance transformer, is terminated in an opencircuit and its length corresponds to quarter the wavelength of thesignal, thus node A sees a short circuit at the signal frequency.

One beneficial result of this signal equivalent circuit is that it showsthat the signal resonance mode does not see the pump resonator 102. Inother words, the signal resonator 104 is isolated from the pumpresonator 102.

Another beneficial result is that the rf-current I_(S) associated withthe signal resonance mode has an anti-node at the location of theJosephson junction 110.

It is noteworthy to clarify here based on FIGS. 2 and 3, that 1) thepump resonator 102 (ignoring the coupling capacitor and feedline)consists of the quarter-wavelength transmission line at the pumpfrequency shorted to ground via the Josephson junction 110, and 2) thesignal resonator 104 (ignoring the coupling capacitor and feedline)consists of the quarter-wavelength transmission line at the signalfrequency shorted to ground via the Josephson junction 110.

The microwave device 100 is configured to couple two microwave resonancemodes (i.e., the pump resonance mode and the signal resonance mode) to acommon dispersive nonlinear element, i.e., Josephson junction 110.

The microwave device 100 is configured to use one mode, i.e., the pumpmode at the pump resonance frequency f_(P), as a photon number detectorof the photons present in the second mode, i.e., the quantum signal modeat the signal resonance frequency f_(S). In the microwave device 100,the signal resonance frequency f_(S) of the signal mode corresponds tothe microwave frequency of the microwave photons that are to be detectedand/or counted.

By driving the pump mode (of the pump resonator 102) using a strongcoherent microwave tone (i.e., pump signal 130) at the pump resonancefrequency f_(P), the microwave device 100 is configured to give rise toa cross-Kerr nonlinear effect in the Josephson junction 110 which leadsto a nonlinear interaction between the pump and signals modes (andconsequently between the pump signal 130 at the pump resonance frequencyf_(P) and the quantum signal 140 at the signal resonance frequencyf_(S)).

As a result of this cross-Kerr effect, the microwave device 100 isconfigured such that the pump resonance frequency f_(P) of the pump modebecomes dependent on the number of photons in the signal resonance modeat frequency f_(S) and vice versa.

The microwave device 100 is configured such that by monitoring the phaseof the reflected pump signal 130′ at frequency f_(P), themeasurement/analysis device 150 can detect in a quantum nondemolitionmeasurement the presence or absence of signal photons in the signal mode(i.e., detect the presence or absence of signal photons in the quantumsignal 140 at frequency f_(S)).

The microwave device 100 is configured such that the number of photonsin the signal mode is inferred/determined based on the size of the phaseshift acquired by the output pump signal 130′ (as measured in reflectionby the measurement/analysis device 150 at the pump feedline 108). Hence,the microwave device 100 serves as a nondemolition microwave photondetector and counter. By introducing a frequency shift in the resonancefrequency of the pump mode, the microwave device 100 neither absorbs nordestroys the signal photons in the quantum signal 140. Rather, thequantum signal is reflected off 104′ the microwave device 100 at thesignal feedline 109 after interacting with the pump signal 130 in thedevice 100 via the Josephson junction 110.

It is noted that in addition to the pump and signal modes which aremeasured in reflection and explained in detail above, the microwavedevice 100 has also two common resonance modes which can be measured intransmission between the pump and signal ports. However, these commonresonance modes do not play a role in the signal-pump interactiondescribed above and have frequencies that are far detuned from the pumpand signal resonance modes (thus can be filtered out if necessary). Forexample, for a device with a pump resonance frequency around 16 GHz, anda signal resonance frequency around 8 GHz, the common modes of thedevice are expected to resonate at around 3 GHz, and 13 GHz.

Two beneficial advantages of the microwave device 100 which can bereadily inferred from the device description are the following:

1) the strong pump drive (i.e., pump signal 130) which enables thedetection of the signal photons is injected through a different portthan the weak signal (e.g., quantum signal 140) being detected; and

2) the pump and signal modes are completely isolated from each other(due to the use of the stubs). They only interact through the JJ (orJJs) which connects their respective resonators. Hence, by design thereshould not be any direct power leakage between the pump and signalports.

FIG. 4 is a schematic of the microwave device 100 implemented as acoplanar waveguide according to an embodiment. In FIG. 4, a pumpfeedline 108 is connected to the pump resonator 102 by the couplingcapacitor 106A. The pump feedline 108 and the pump resonator 102 aremade of superconductors formed on a low-loss dielectric substrate. Thecoupling capacitor 106A is implemented as a gap capacitor between theconductors of the pump feedline 108 and pump resonator 102. The pumpresonator 102 has a length corresponding to approximately λ_(P)/4 (for aparticular pump resonance frequency this length can vary depending onthe amount of lumped inductance added by the Josephson junction 110terminating the transmission line part of the pump resonator). A groundplane 405 is formed on both sides of the pump resonator 102 and pumpfeedline 108.

A quantum signal feedline 109 is connected to the signal resonator 104by the coupling capacitor 106B. The signal feedline 109 and the signalresonator 104 are also made of superconductors formed on the low-lossdielectric substrate. Similarly, the coupling capacitor 106B isimplemented as a gap capacitor between the conductors of the signalfeedline 109 and signal resonator 104. The signal resonator 104 has alength corresponding to approximately λ_(S)/4 (for a particular signalresonance frequency this length can vary depending on the amount oflumped inductance added by the Josephson junction 110 terminating thetransmission line part of the signal resonator). A ground plane 405 isformed on both sides of the signal resonator 104 and signal feedline109.

At node A, the pump resonator 102 is connected to the Josephson junction110 and the stub 120A. The other end of the stub 120A is left open(i.e., terminated in an open circuit).

At node B, the signal resonator 104 is connected to the Josephsonjunction 110 and the stub 120B. The other end of the stub 120B isconnected to the ground plane 405. The stubs 120A and 120B aresuperconducting transmission lines implemented in this embodiment in theform of a coplanar waveguide on the low-loss dielectric substrate, andthe center conductor of the stubs 120A and 120B each have a lengthcorresponding to λ_(P)/2.

The Josephson junction 110 is a dispersive nonlinear inductor, which ismade of two superconducting electrodes separated by a barrier (e.g.,insulating tunnel barrier). For example, one superconducting electrodeof the Josephson junction 110 connects to node A, while the othersuperconducting electrode connects to node B.

FIG. 5 is a schematic of the microwave device 100 implemented in theform of a microstrip geometry according to an embodiment. FIG. 5 issimilar to FIG. 4 in that the microstrip implementation hassuperconductors formed on a low-loss dielectric substrate according tothe microwave device 100. One main difference between the microstrip andthe coplanar waveguide implementations relates to the location of theground plane. In the coplanar waveguide configuration (FIG. 4) theground plane is located on the same side of the dielectric substrate asthe center conductor, whereas in the micorstrip configuration (FIG. 5)the ground plane is on the opposite side of the dielectric substrate.

In FIG. 5, a pump feedline 108 is connected to the pump resonator 102 bythe coupling capacitor 106A. The pump feedline 108 and the pumpresonator 102 are superconductors formed on a low-loss dielectricsubstrate. The coupling capacitor 106A is implemented as a gap capacitorbetween the conductors of the pump feedline 108 and pump resonator 102.The pump resonator 102 has a length corresponding to λ_(P)/4 (for aparticular pump resonance frequency this length can vary depending onthe amount of lumped inductance added by the Josephson junction 110terminating the transmission line part of the pump resonator). However,unlike FIG. 4, no ground plane is formed on both sides of the pumpresonator 102 and pump feedline 108, and instead the ground plane isformed on the other side of the dielectric substrate.

A quantum signal feedline 109 is connected to the signal resonator 104by the coupling capacitor 106B. The signal feedline 109 and the signalresonator 104 are also superconductors formed on the low-loss dielectricsubstrate. Similarly, the coupling capacitor 106B is implemented as agap capacitor between the conductors of the signal feedline 109 andsignal resonator 104. The signal resonator 104 has a lengthcorresponding to λ_(S)/4 (for a particular signal resonance frequencythis length can vary depending on the amount of lumped inductance addedby the Josephson junction 110 terminating the transmission line part ofthe signal resonator). Unlike FIG. 4, no ground plane is formed on bothsides of the signal resonator 104 and signal feedline 109, and insteadthe ground plane is formed on the other side of the dielectricsubstrate.

At node A, the pump resonator 102 is connected to the Josephson junction110 and the stub 120A. The other end of the stub 120A is left open(i.e., terminated in an open circuit).

At node B, the signal resonator 104 is connected to the Josephsonjunction 110 and the stub 120B. The other end of the stub 120B isconnected to the ground plane 405. The stubs 120A and 120B aresuperconducting transmission lines implemented in this embodiment in theform of a microstrip on the low-loss dielectric substrate, and thecenter conductor of the stubs 120A and 120B each have a lengthcorresponding to λ_(P)/2.

In accordance with the teachings presented herein, one of ordinary skillin the art recognizes other possible implementations or variations toembodiments. In one implementation, the pump and signal resonators 102and 104 may be equivalently implemented using lumped inductors (e.g.,narrow superconducting wires or array of large Josephson junctions) andlumped capacitors (e.g., planar capacitors or interdigitatedcapacitors). One particular condition in the various implementations isto maintain maximum RF currents of the pump and signal modes at theJosephson junction 110 location.

In another implementation, the half-wave stubs 120A and 120B of themicrowave device 100 can also implemented using their equivalentlumped-element circuit in the vicinity of the pump resonance frequency.

In one implementation, the single Josephson junction 110 may be replacedby an array of large Josephson junctions.

In yet another implementation, the single Josephson junction 110 may bereplaced by a direct current superconducting quantum interference device(DC-SQUID) (or array of DC-SQUIDs) which enables in-situ tuning of thelinear inductance of the mixing element (i.e., the inductance of theJosephson junctions in the DC-SQUID) by varying the magnetic fluxthreading the DC-SQUID loop (or the loops of the array of DC-SQUIDs).

According to an implementation, the microwave device 100 can be madefrequency tunable by incorporating DC-SQUIDs in the device resonators,stubs, and the nonlinear mixing element (i.e., the Josephson junction110 or array of Josephson junctions).

More detail of the theory for the photon counting and detection in themicrowave device 100 is discussed. For ease of understanding,sub-headings are provided below. It is understood that the sub-headingare for explanation purposes and not limitation.

I. The Energy of the Josephson Junction

A supercurrent flowing in a Josephson junction satisfies thecurrent-phase relation given by I_(J)=I₀ sin δ, where I₀ is the criticalcurrent of the Josephson junction, δ is the gauge-invariant phasedifference. The energy of the Josephson junction can be written asE_(j)=E_(J)[1−cos δ], where E_(J)=I₀φ₀ is the Josephson energy andφ₀=ℏ/2e is the reduced flux-quantum (e is the electron charge). By usingthe trigonometric identity cos x=√{square root over (1−x²)} we canrewrite the energy of the Josephson junction as

$E_{j} = {{E_{J}\left\lbrack {1 - \sqrt{1 - \left( \frac{I_{J}}{I_{0}} \right)^{2}}} \right\rbrack}.}$

Expanding the expression for the energy of the Josephson junction up tofourth order in current we get

$E_{j} \simeq {{\frac{E_{J}}{2}\left( \frac{I_{J}}{I_{0}} \right)^{2}} - {\frac{E_{J}}{24}{\left( \frac{I_{J}}{I_{0}} \right)^{4}.}}}$By substituting the junction inductance

$L_{J} = \frac{E_{J}}{I_{0}^{2}}$we obtain

$\begin{matrix}{{E_{j} \simeq {{\frac{L_{J}}{2}I_{J}^{2}} - {\frac{L_{J}}{24}\frac{I_{J}^{4}}{I_{0}^{2}}}}},} & \left( {{Eq}.\mspace{11mu} 1} \right)\end{matrix}$

where the first term (∝I_(J) ²) modifies the bare resonance frequenciesof the pump and signal resonators while the second term (∝I_(J) ⁴)represents the nonlinear mixing term.

II. Quantization

Based on the equivalent circuits of the microwave device as seen by thepump and signal ports shown in FIGS. 2, 3, the Radio frequency (RF)current flowing in the Josephson junction is I_(J)=I_(P)−I_(S), whereI_(P) and I_(S) are the rf-currents of the pump and signal microwaveresonance modes flowing in the Josephson junction.

Expressing the currents I_(P), I_(S) in terms of the quantum operatorsα_(P), α_(S) which represent the annihilation operators associated withthe pump and signal resonance modes givesI _(P) =iÎ _(P)(α_(P) ^(†)−α_(P))  (Eq. 2)I _(S) =iÎ _(S)(α_(S) ^(†)−α_(S))  (Eq. 3)

where Î_(P), Î_(S) are the zero-point fluctuations (ZPF) currentamplitudes given by

${{\hat{I}}_{P} = {{\omega_{P}\sqrt{\frac{\hslash}{2Z_{P}}}\mspace{14mu}{and}\mspace{14mu}{\hat{I}}_{S}} = {\omega_{S}\sqrt{\frac{\hslash}{2Z_{S}}}}}},$where ω_(P) and ω_(S) are the angular resonance frequencies of the pumpand signal resonators, and Z_(P) and Z_(S) are the characteristicimpedances of the corresponding resonators.

Using the following expressions for the angular resonance frequencies

${\omega_{P}^{2} = \frac{1}{L_{P}C_{P}}},{\omega_{S}^{2} = \frac{1}{L_{S}C_{S}}}$and resonator impedances

${Z_{P}^{2} = \frac{L_{P}}{C_{P}}},{Z_{S}^{2} = \frac{L_{S}}{C_{S}}}$the ZPF current amplitudes can be rewritten as

$\begin{matrix}{{{\hat{I}}_{P}^{2} = {\frac{\hslash}{2}\frac{\omega_{P}}{L_{P}}}},{and}} & \left( {{Eq}.\mspace{14mu} 4} \right) \\{{{\hat{I}}_{S}^{2} = {\frac{\hslash}{2}\frac{\omega_{S}}{L_{S}}}},} & \left( {{Eq}.\mspace{14mu} 5} \right)\end{matrix}$

where L_(P), L_(S) and C_(P), C_(S) represent the inductances andcapacitances of the equivalent LC circuit of the pump and signalresonators at resonance.

III. Effective Hamiltonian of the System

Without taking into account the feedlines, drives, and loss to theenvironment the effective Hamiltonian of the system is given by the sumH _(eff) =H _(res) +E _(j),  (Eq. 6)

where H_(res)=ℏω_(P)N_(P)+ℏω_(S)N_(S), and N_(P)=α_(P) ^(†)α_(P),N_(S)=α_(S) ^(†)α_(S) are the photon number operators for the pump andsignal modes.

Substituting Eqs. 2 and 3 into the expression for E_(j) (i.e., Eq. 1)while using Eqs. 4 and 5, the photon number operators N_(P), N_(S), theimposed frequency condition ω_(P)=2ω_(S), and the rotating waveapproximation, we can write the effective Hamiltonian of the system (Eq.6) in the formH _(eff)=ℏ{tilde over (ω)}_(P) N _(P)+ℏ{tilde over (ω)}_(S) N _(S) +ℏKN_(P) ² +ℏK′N _(P) N _(S)  (Eq. 7)

where {tilde over (ω)}_(P), {tilde over (ω)}_(S) in the first and secondterm are the dressed angular resonance frequencies of the pump andsignal modes which include the inductive loading of the resonators dueto the Josephson junction (represented by the first term in Eq. 1), andK, K′ in the third and fourth term which represent the self-Kerr andcross-Kerr nonlinearity correspond to the self-Kerr and cross-Kerrconstants respectively.

In the derivation of Eq. 7, we have also used the fact the pump mode isdriven strongly compared to the signal mode, and that the bosonicoperators of the two modes α_(P), α_(S) commute with each other andthose of the same mode satisfy the usual commutation relations of theform [α_(P), α_(P) ^(†)]=1, [α_(S), α_(S) ^(†)]=1.

The self-Kerr constant in Eq. 7 is given by

${K = {{- \frac{L_{J}}{4I_{0}^{2}}}\frac{{\hat{I}}_{P}^{4}}{\hslash}}},$which we can rewrite in terms of the participation ratio

$p_{P} = \frac{L_{J}}{L_{P}}$of the linear inductance of the JJ to the total inductance of the pumpresonator and the plasma frequency of the JJ

$\begin{matrix}{\omega_{J} = \frac{I_{0}}{2e}} & \; \\{K = {- {\frac{p_{P}^{2}\omega_{P}^{2}}{16\omega_{J}}.}}} & \left( {{Eq}.\mspace{14mu} 8} \right)\end{matrix}$

Similarly, the cross-Kerr constant in Eq. 7 is given by

${K^{\prime} = {{- \frac{L_{J}}{I_{0}^{2}}}\frac{{\hat{I}}_{P}^{2}{\hat{I}}_{S}^{2}}{\hslash}}},$which we can rewrite in terms of p_(P), ω_(J), and the participationratio

$p_{S} = \frac{L_{J}}{L_{S}}$of the linear inductance of the JJ to the total inductance of the signalresonator

$\begin{matrix}{K^{\prime} = {- {\frac{p_{P}p_{S}\omega_{P}\omega_{S}}{4\omega_{J}}.}}} & \left( {{Eq}.\mspace{14mu} 9} \right)\end{matrix}$

IV. Resonance Frequency Shift Per Photon

To better understand the basic idea of the device, we rearrange theterms in Eq. 7 such that the effective Hamiltonian of the system readsH _(eff)=ℏ({tilde over (ω)}_(P) +KN _(P) +K′N _(S))N _(P)+ℏ{tilde over(ω)}_(S) N _(S).  (Eq. 10)

This form shows that by operating the device in the nonlinear regimewhere the Kerr effect is appreciable, the self-Kerr and cross-Kerrnonlinearity cause the dressed angular resonance frequency of the pumpmode to shift depending on the number of photons present in the pump andsignal resonance modes. Furthermore, since the pump mode is externallydriven at a certain working point, signal photons that enter the signalresonator would shift the pump resonance frequency by K′N_(S), which isproportional to their number, thus the cross-Kerr constant K′corresponds to frequency shift per photon.

It is noted that in order to detect (i.e., resolve the presence of) asingle microwave photon using this device the frequency shift per photondue to the cross-Kerr nonlinearity (i.e., K′) should be equal or largerthan the linewidth (i.e., bandwidth) of the pump resonance mode at theworking point.

V. Design Example Using Typical Numerical Values

In a design example of the proposed microwave device 100, feasiblenumerical values of the various parameters are utilized. The dressedresonance frequency for the pump mode is

$\frac{{\overset{\sim}{\omega}}_{P}}{2\pi} = {16\mspace{14mu}{{GHz}.}}$The dressed resonance frequency for the signal mode is

$\frac{{\overset{\sim}{\omega}}_{S}}{2\pi} = {8\mspace{14mu}{{GHz}.}}$The impedance of the resonators Z_(P)=Z_(S)=50Ω (please note that lowercharacteristic impedances are also feasible and are expected to be morefavorable with respect to the device performance). Using the relation

${L_{P,S} = \frac{Z_{P,S}}{{\overset{\sim}{\omega}}_{P,S}\;}},$we get an estimate for L_(P)=0.5 nanoHenry (nH), L_(S)=1 nH. AssumingI₀=1 microampere (μA), then

$L_{J} = {{0.3\mspace{14mu}{nH}\mspace{14mu}{and}\mspace{14mu}\frac{\omega_{J}}{2\pi}} = {497\mspace{14mu}{{GHz}.}}}$U sing the values for L_(P,S) and L_(J) we get an estimate for theparticipation ratios for the pump and signal resonators p_(P)≅0.38 andp_(S)≅0.23. Substituting these values in Eqs. 8 and 9 yields

$\frac{K}{2\pi} \simeq {{- 4.6}\mspace{14mu}{MHz}\mspace{14mu}{and}\mspace{14mu}\frac{K^{\prime}}{2\pi}} \simeq {{- 5.6}\mspace{14mu}{{MHz}.}}$By designing the pump resonance mode to have a linewidth smaller thanthese frequency shifts per photon (which is completely achievable withstate-of-the-art superconducting microwave circuits), the microwavedevice 100 is configured to detect single quantum signal photons asmeasured by the measurement/analysis device 150.

In order for the device to work properly in one implementation, it needsto satisfy two additional requirements. For the first requirement, theinternal quality factor of both resonators should be as high as possibleat the single photon level >10⁵ and at least 2 orders of magnitudelarger than the external quality factor of the resonators set by thecoupling capacitors between the resonators and the feedlines and theircharacteristic impedances. This requirement is so that the signalphotons being detected and the pump photons detecting them do not getlost to internal loss mechanisms in the resonators at a higher rate thanthe rate at which they enter and leave both resonators. One obviousconsequence of this requirement is that the total quality factor of bothresonators is mainly set by the external quality factor.

For the second requirement, the bandwidth of the pump resonator at thebias point should be equal or larger than the bandwidth of the signalresonator. In other words, the response time of the pump resonatorshould be equal or shorter than the response time of the signalresonator. This requirement is in order to allow a sufficient time forthe pump photons to detect the signal photons before they leave thedevice through the signal feedline. It is noted that both requirementsare achieved in superconducting microwave circuits discussed herein.

In one implementation, a technique to (experimentally) calibrate thevalue of the cross-Kerr constant K′ for a certain pump drive is byvarying the input power of a coherent tone applied at the signalfrequency to the signal resonator while measuring—for each inputpower—the complex reflection parameter of the pump resonator as afunction of frequency using a very weak probe (less than one photon onaverage) superimposed on the pump drive. By extracting the slope of themeasured pump resonance frequency versus signal power and usingbeforehand knowledge of the signal resonance frequency and the signalresonator bandwidth, one can calculate the constant K′.

In one implementation, a technique to (experimentally) detect singlesignal photons using this device is by monitoring the phase of thereflected pump drive applied at the pump resonance frequency with noinput signal (i.e., N_(S)=0). When signal photons on the order of 1-3photons enter the signal resonator and interact with the pump modethrough the JJ (i.e., the nonlinear dispersive element) the resonancefrequency of the pump mode shifts downwards by a multiple number ofK′/2π that is proportional to the number of signal photons in the signalresonator. As a consequence of this resonance frequency shift of thepump mode, the phase of the reflected pump drive is correspondinglyshifted as well. By measuring this phase shift one can infer the numberof signal photons (on the order of 1-3) that entered the device.

In order to count in real-time a larger number of incoming signalphotons, e.g., between 3 to 10, using the device, one may employ a moreelaborate measurement technique. For example, continuous monitoring maybe performed of the reflected phase of multiple relatively weak tones(in order not to alter the device operation) applied to the pumpresonator at frequencies that are located

$\frac{K^{\prime}}{2\pi},\frac{2K^{\prime}}{2\pi},{\ldots\mspace{14mu}\frac{N_{S}K^{\prime}}{2\pi}}$below the pump resonance frequency with no input signal (i.e., N_(S)=0).According to this method, if a phase shift is detected in the reflectedweak tone that is applied at frequency

$\frac{N_{S}K^{\prime}}{2\pi}$below the pump resonance frequency with no input signal (i.e., N_(S)=0),this indicates with high probability that the incoming signal containedN_(S) photons.

Measuring a larger number of microwave photons beyond a few photonsmight not be as useful for certain quantum applications, and thus thedevice may not be tuned accordingly. It is also noted that the effectiveHamiltonian of the system was specifically derived in the limit of veryweak signal compared to the pump drive. Thus, by further increasing thestrength of the signal beyond a few photons, other unwanted nonlinearterms which were neglected in the derivation of the Hamiltonian (Eq. 10)are expected to come into play. The exact number of input signal photonswhich the device can detect or count without a significant degradationof performance can of course vary from one device to another and fromone implementation to another depending on several design parameters,such as the critical current of JJ or JJs, the participation ratios, thebandwidths of the resonators, the characteristic impedances of theresonators, and the particular implementation of the resonators.

Now turning to FIG. 6, a flow chart of a method 600 is provided fornondemolition counting and/or detection of microwave photons using themicrowave device 100 according to an embodiment.

At block 605, the microwave device 100 is configured to couple a pumpresonance mode (fundamental resonance mode) of the pump resonator 102and a signal resonance mode (e.g., fundamental resonance mode) of thequantum signal resonator 104 to a dispersive nonlinear element (e.g.,Josephson junction 110), responsive to the pump signal 130 at a pumpresonance frequency f_(P) and the quantum signal 140 at a signalresonance frequency f_(S). The pump resonance mode of the pump resonator102 has the pump resonance frequency f_(P) and the signal resonance modeof the quantum signal resonator has the signal resonance frequency.

At block 610, the microwave device 100 is configured to create anonlinear interaction\mixing (i.e., via the Josephson junction 110)between the pump signal 130 and the quantum signal 140, by stronglydriving the pump resonance mode (i.e., pump mode) with the coherent pumpsignal 130 at the pump resonance frequency f_(P).

At block 615, the microwave device 100 is configured to enable detectionof the presence or absence of photons in the quantum signal 140according to the resonance frequency of the pump mode which affects thephase of the output pump signal 130′ (i.e., reflected from the microwavedevice 100).

The microwave device 100 is configured to excite a cross-Kerr nonlineareffect in the dispersive nonlinear element, thereby causing thenonlinear interaction between the pump signal 130 and the quantum signal140. The microwave device 100 is configured such that the pump resonancefrequency of the pump mode is dependent on the number of photons in thequantum signal 140 as a result of the cross-Kerr nonlinear effect takingplace in the device (this can be shown by taking into account theinput-output relations of the device).

The number of photons in the quantum signal 140 is determined by a sizeof a frequency shift in the pump resonance frequency. The frequencyshift is a multiple of a cross-Kerr coefficient. A baseline frequencyshift is established, such that the frequency shift is denoted as beinggreater than the baseline frequency shift previously established. Thefrequency shift denotes the number of the photons in the quantum signalwhile the baseline frequency shift is established prior to receiving thequantum signal. Each multiple of the baseline frequency shift in thepump signal denotes a single photon count of the quantum signal, suchthat 0-N photons corresponds to 0-M multiples of the baseline frequencyshift, where N is a last number of the photons and M is a last multipleof the baseline frequency shift.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a method 700 for the microwave device 100according to an embodiment. Reference can be made to FIGS. 1-5.

At block 705, the microwave device 100 is configured to receive a strongcoherent pump signal 130 at the pump resonance frequency f_(P), wherethe pump resonance frequency corresponds to a pump resonance(fundamental) mode of a pump resonator 102.

At block 710, the microwave device 100 is configured to receive aquantum signal 140 at the signal resonance frequency f_(S), where thesignal resonance frequency corresponds to a signal resonance(fundamental) mode of a signal resonator 104.

At block 715, the microwave device 100 is configured to output the pumpsignal 130′ with a phase shift, in response to pump resonance frequencyshift of the pump mode which depends on a number of photons in thequantum signal 140.

It will be noted that various microelectronic device fabrication methodsmay be utilized to fabricate the components/elements discussed herein asunderstood by one skilled in the art. In superconducting andsemiconductor device fabrication, the various processing steps fall intofour general categories: deposition, removal, patterning, andmodification of electrical properties.

Deposition is any process that grows, coats, or otherwise transfers amaterial onto the wafer. Available technologies include physical vapordeposition (PVD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), electrochemicaldeposition (ECD), molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) and more recently, atomiclayer deposition (ALD) among others.

Removal is any process that removes material from the wafer: examplesinclude etch processes (either wet or dry), and chemical-mechanicalplanarization (CMP), etc.

Patterning is the shaping or altering of deposited materials, and isgenerally referred to as lithography. For example, in conventionallithography, the wafer is coated with a chemical called a photoresist;then, a machine called a stepper focuses, aligns, and moves a mask,exposing select portions of the wafer below to short wavelength light;the exposed regions are washed away by a developer solution. Afteretching or other processing, the remaining photoresist is removed.Patterning also includes electron-beam lithography.

Modification of electrical properties may include doping, such as dopingtransistor sources and drains, generally by diffusion and/or by ionimplantation. These doping processes are followed by furnace annealingor by rapid thermal annealing (RTA). Annealing serves to activate theimplanted dopants.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for nondemolition counting of photons, the method comprising: coupling a pump resonance mode of a pump resonator and a signal resonance mode of a quantum signal resonator to a dispersive nonlinear element, responsive to a pump signal at a pump resonance frequency and a quantum signal at a signal resonance frequency, wherein the pump resonance mode of the pump resonator has the pump resonance frequency, wherein the signal resonance mode of the quantum signal resonator has the signal resonance frequency; creating a nonlinear interaction between the pump signal and the quantum signal, by driving the pump resonance mode with the pump signal at the pump resonance frequency, wherein the pump resonator and the quantum signal resonator are different resonators; and detecting a presence or absence of photons in the quantum signal according to the pump resonance frequency which affects an output pump signal being measured.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising exciting a cross-Kerr nonlinear effect in the dispersive nonlinear element, thereby causing the nonlinear interaction between the pump signal and the quantum signal.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the pump resonance frequency of the output pump signal is dependent on a number of the photons in the quantum signal as a result of the cross-Kerr nonlinear effect.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the number of photons in the quantum signal is determined by a size of a phase shift in the output pump signal.
 5. A method for nondemolition counting of photons, the method comprising: coupling a pump resonance mode of a pump resonator and a signal resonance mode of a quantum signal resonator to a dispersive nonlinear element, responsive to a pump signal at a pump resonance frequency and a quantum signal at a signal resonance frequency, wherein the pump resonance mode of the pump resonator has the pump resonance frequency, wherein the signal resonance mode of the quantum signal resonator has the signal resonance frequency; creating a nonlinear interaction between the pump signal and the quantum signal, by driving the pump resonance mode with the pump signal at the pump resonance frequency; and detecting a presence or absence of photons in the quantum signal according, to the pump resonance frequency which affects an output pump signal being measured; wherein a frequency shift is a multiple of a cross-Kerr coefficient, such that the multiple of the cross-Kerr coefficient is an integer multiplied by the cross-Kerr coefficient.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein a baseline frequency shift is established, such that the frequency shift is denoted as being greater than the baseline frequency shift previously established.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the frequency shift denotes the number of the photons in the quantum signal while the baseline frequency shift is established prior to receiving the quantum signal.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein each multiple of the baseline frequency shift in the pump resonance frequency denotes a single photon count of the quantum signal, such that 0-N photons corresponds to 0-M multiples of the baseline frequency shift, where N is a last number of the photons and M is a last multiple of the baseline frequency shift.
 9. A method of a microwave device, the method comprising: receiving, by the microwave device, a pump signal at a pump resonance frequency, the pump resonance frequency corresponding to a pump resonance mode of a pump resonator; receiving, by the microwave device, a quantum signal at a signal resonance frequency, the signal resonance frequency corresponding to a signal resonance mode of a signal resonator, wherein the pump resonator and the quantum signal resonator are different resonators; and outputting, by the microwave device, the pump signal with a phase shift, in response to a number of photons in the quantum signal. 